SHEFFIELD EAGLES have added former Rotherham Titans rugby union player Jamie Cooke to their squad.
Cooke, 30, has spent the past eight seasons with Rotherham, during which time they have moved between the second, third and fourth tiers of the rugby union pyramid.
He hails from Bury St Edmonds in Suffolk and his only previous rugby league experience came at university level.
Cooke joined Sheffield on trial at the beginning of pre-season after a suggestion from their commercial director John Whaling, who previously held the same role with Rotherham.
After appearing in December’s pre-season win over Keighley Cougars, Cooke remained with the squad and has now penned a contract until the end of the season.
A centre and occasional winger in the 15-a-side code, Cooke is expected to play either at centre or in the back row for the Eagles, who have won their first three games of the new Championship season and head to Rochdale Hornets on Sunday.
“He’s a played a good level at rugby union but he’s always wanted to scratch that itch,” explained Eagles head coach Craig Lingard.
“He’s a physical specimen. He’s strong, quick and elusive. It’s just about him learning the intricacies of rugby league compared to rugby union.
“In league he could transition to either centre or back row. You’ve got a lot of decision-making to do on edge defensively so sometimes it might be better to protect him and put him in the middle of the park.
“He’s a bit of a utility at the minute and I guess finding his position might take a little bit of time.
“We need to get him some game time, either on loan or dual-reg at a reserve team, rather than putting him straight into a Championship game.”